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Exploring the impact of stress on balance and gait speed in people with multiple sclerosis
Dina Boshareh1, Mohammad Al-Wardat1, Khader Al Mhdawi1
1Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan.
Background/Objectives:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes various impairments, affecting physical, psychological, and cognitive functions. While stress is common in patients with MS (PwMS), its impact on balance and gait speed has not yet been explored. This study aimed to examine the impact of stress on balance and gait speed in PwMS while also assessing its prevalence in this population.
Methods:
A total of 125 individuals diagnosed with MS based on the 2017 McDonald criteria participated. Outcome measures included a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Patient Determined Disease Step (PDDS) to assess disability level, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) to measure stress levels, the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) for fatigue assessment, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) for cognitive function, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for balance, and the 10-Meter Walking Test (10-MWT) for gait speed evaluation.
Results:
A significant negative correlation was found between stress and balance (r = -0.373, p = 0.0001), and a significant positive correlation was observed between stress and time taken to complete the 10-MWT (r = 0.216, p = 0.01). However, after controlling for confounders (age, BMI, PDDS, disease duration, and disease onset), these correlations were no longer significant.
Conclusion:
The findings suggest a high prevalence of stress in PwMS, with potential effects on balance and gait speed. Stress management interventions may play a crucial role in enhancing mobility and stability in PwMS. Further research is warranted to investigate additional factors influencing this relationship.
